Sunday, March 6, 2011

Imperialism

INTRODUCTION
With the Industrial Revolution making its way into the new world, Imperialism started to develop with it. Imperialism is defined as a process by which one state, with superior military strength and more advanced technology imposes it's control over the land, resources, and population of a less developed region.

OBJECTIVE
My objective for this unit is to understand what Imperialism was all about and why people were so caught up in it.

ESSENTIAL QUESTION
What motives caused the nation's of Europe to engage in imperialistic activities?

ANSWER
They wanted more than what they had, more territory, more natural resources, more power, more expansions. They wanted to dominate over everyone else.

POLITICAL CARTOONS
In this political cartoon it is depicting England as an octopus, and it's tentacles reaching out to all the countries that it has authority over. The authors opinion on this matter is that they're trying to expose England as an imperialistic power, not necessarily in a bad way but just showing people how much control they have. I like this cartoon because it's depicting the truth, and it's a cool way to show it, because as they said, "The sun never sets on the British Empire."

This is depicting man clawing at the chance to take over parts of Africa though imperialism. Once the Industrial Revolution came about countries had more technological advances to take over other weaker countries. I think that this artist is showing that other wealthier countries were clawing at the chance to take over what they could.

This cartoon is depicting America's imperialistic ways throughout time. It's saying that America's imperialistic ways helped countries get out of oppression, the top half is showing what it was like before we came along, and the bottom half is showing how it was after, we're saying that we helped them, but in some cases we basically took them over.

DO YOU THINK THE U.S. IS/HAS BEEN IMPERIALISTIC?
I think the United States was definitely imperialistic and still is imperialistic today. If you look back in history, taking over the lands of the Native Americans was very imperialistic, we took over their land, population, and resources through military forces. The U.S. still acts imperialistic today as we're over in Iraq and Afghanistan, trying to implement our ways of life onto others of a different background and country. The U.S. isn't trying to take others land or things of that nature, but the fact that they're trying to change aspects of other countries to the way we would like it is imperialistic. But, the fact that we still act imperialistic let's other countries know that we are not weak, and cannot be taken control of.

TWO U.S. EVENTS
Theodore Roosevelt Becomes President.
Theodore became president in 1901 until 1909.  He is noted for his energetic personality, range of interests and achievements, leadership of the Progressive Movement, and his "cowboy" image and robust masculinity. Roosevelt was the force behind the completion of the Panama Canal; he sent out the Great White Fleet to display American power; and he negotiated an end to the Russo-Japanese War, for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize. Roosevelt was the first American to win the Nobel Prize in any field.






Sinking of the Titanic
The RMS Titanic was the largest passenger steamship in the world when she set off on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City on April 10, 1912. She hit an iceberg and sank at 2:20 the following morning. 1,517 people were killed, all from different countries, this event's pain was felt by those from almost every continent.



THE SEPOY MUTINY
This event cropped up because Indian discontent with British rule. This event took place on May 10, 1857, the Sepoy's who were Indians trained by the British, heard rumors that their cartridges were being greased with lard and beef fat. This angered them because they found those animals sacred, and holy, they did not eat them. This uprising ended up doing nothing for the Sepoy's.

UPRISING IN THE MIDDLE EAST
The escalating up rises in the Middle-East countries, such as Egypt are starting a chain reaction. The countries people are unhappy with their leaders and are now standing up for themselves, but not doing it in a peaceful way. The countries who are protesting are Libya, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt, Yemen, Iraq, Tunisia, Mauritania, Iran, Jordan, Algeria, Djibouti, Kuwait, Sudan, Syria, Morocco, and the Palestinian Territories, and they're all unhappy with their oppressive leaders. In these protests there have been deaths, injuries, and military action. The protests are still going on, and much debate is going on in each of these countries to try and solve the problems.


SPOTLIGHT-ON (SUEZ CANAL)
The Suez Canal connected the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, which shortened trips to Asian Markets. It opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation around Africa. This canal made it easier for trade and made a faster route.

3-2-1.
Three things I learned are:
1. The British had control over countries in every time zone so that literally "The sun never sets on the British Empire."
2. That Theodore Roosevelt won a noble peace prize, i never knew this.
3. That people are still willing to stand up for what they believe (the uprisings in the middle east)

Two things I find interesting are:
1. That so many countries are in an uprise right now over their leaders.
2. That the Suez Canal led us into modern canal making

One question I still have is:
1

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Chapter 22!

                                                   Introduction
The Industrial Revolution launched in 1730 and ended in 1850, in Great Britain. Times were changing and becoming more modern with new ideas, lifestyles, points of view, and inventions. A new and different world started in this era, and it changed the lives of everyone in this time and after this time.

My Goal
The goal I hope to accomplish is to learn more about the inventions and the lives of the people during this time period because I think its very interesting.

Essential Question
Why did the Industrial Revolution start in Great Britain?
      - Some main reasons why Great Britain was the first industrial nation was because they had an abundance of natural resources, like coal, iron and cotton. They also had good harbors, canals, rivers, railways and roads, which made it easier for trading goods. Also, the government was in control by the people who had an interest in the success of the industries. But, Britain, being a wealthy entrepreneurial class that had the financing and business skills to set up new industries didn't hurt either. All of these reasons combined is why Great Britain was the home of the Industrial Revolution, these advantages is what helped them be able to start it, and keep it going.

Three Important People of the Industrial Revolution
Richard Arkwright, the youngest of thirteen children
to Sarah and Thomas Arkwright, definitely
made himself stand out among his sister's and brother's. Arkwright played a big role in the
Industrial Revolution by presenting us with water power, which was formerly known as the spinning frame. He was a leading
entrepreneur of the Revolution by becoming
the creator of the modern factory system,
which brought us into a more modern time.









George Stephenson is known as the Father of Railways because he invented the first public railways line to use steam locomotives. He's so well known, liked, and significant that the world's standard gauge is also known as "Stephenson's Gauge". He helped bring railways into the modern time.
 

James Watt achieved so much despite the death of his mother at age eighteen,
and his father's failing health at eighteen also.
Watt was a mechanical engineer from Scotland whose improvements to the Steam Engine were fundamental to the changes brought by the Industrial Revolution.
 It improved the railways system, making it easier to transport goods made in factories.

United States Event
The Invention of the Cotton Gin, by Eli Whitney revolutionized the cotton making process. What used to be a labor intensive task was now made easier due to this invention. The cotton gin's popularity exploded in the South, it helped farmers complete more work in a faster time, but the downside of this invention is that it increased the number of slaves needed to pick cotton, therefore increasing the need for slavery. The modern process of cotton ginning continues across the Southern states where cotton is grown, but is now also located in the major cotton producing areas of the American Southwest and overseas. Although the machinery costs a lot more, it's similar to the old process of cotton ginning.



"You can have it in any color, so long as it's black." - Henry Ford

Henry Ford's Model T was invented around the time of the British Industrial Revolution. It made such an impact on the lives of Americans. It created a new lifestyle of the people, and it opened a door into the modern world. Also, Ford's invention of the Assembly line improved the making of products in factories. The Model T marked the beginning of the motor age, it improved transportation and ideas of lifestyles, and some of these views we have today. Such as, back then if you had a car you were considered lucky, and now, if you have a certain type of car you are also considered lucky. It's because we still use car's today that Henry Ford's invention is important, they have a big impact on people's lives, and until the day that someone invents a hovercraft that middle class people can afford, they will always be used in our lives.


Spotlight On Public Health
Public health services were created by the government and were financed by taxation, with no charge to the user for the services. There was an increase in the public health department and the government hired public health inspectors to reinforce these laws. Through public health many premature deaths from epidemic diseases such as cholera, plague and many other infectious diseases were prevented. Life expectancy was now greatly improved and this enhanced the quality of life, because healthier people lead to happier people, which leads to a better world!

3! 2! 1!
Three things I have learned are that Britain started the Industrial Revolution because they had the resources to do so, this was a time of hardship (for the workers in factories) but also a time of luxury for the countries that could afford to Industrialize, and I also learned that Stephenson Gauge's is used because of his invention.

Two things I found interesting were that Eli Whitney didn't make a lot of money off of the cotton gin because farmers just copied his and made their own without paying a fee. Also, that Arkwright grew up being the youngest of thirteen children, with almost no formal education but still managed to shine in the spotlight.

One question I still have is that, was there any invention that was put out there that ended up failing horribly?

Standards
8.4.12.World History Standards

A. Evaluate the significance of individuals and groups who made major political and cultural contributions to world history since 1450.

B. Evaluate historical documents, material artifacts and historic sites important to world history since 1450.

C. Evaluate how continuity and change throughout history has impacted belief systems and religions, commerce and industry, innovations, settlement patterns, social organization, transportation and roles of women since 1450.